Preview/Prediction

The first thing I will forever remember about Jason Heyward was his very first at bat as a major leaguer.

Facing a 2-0 count against a veteran pitcher in Carlos Zambrano, Heyward’s first swing connected with Zambrano’s fastball and flew into orbit, as did every Braves fan’s expectations for the 20-year-old rookie.

And the guy didn't disappoint.

Since the Washington Nationals signed Jayson Werth to a mega deal for $126 million over seven years in December, the Philadelphia Phllies lost Werth's ability to hit for power, which is a valuable asset to have in a player.  However, power is not necessarily what makes or breaks a team.  Many teams are very successful by playing small ball baseball or contact hitting.

Think back four years ago.

No, not to the point when unemployment was still under 6%, the debt was under $10 trillion or the St. Louis Cardinals were reigning World Series Champions, but to the voting in January 2007.

Baseball writers, fans and historians all knew that it was going to be a unique day, when Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn, two of the surest Hall of Famers anyone who had watched baseball between 1982 and 2001 ever saw, went into Cooperstown.

MLB trade rumors never go away, even when things on the baseball front quiet down around the holidays, as is usually the case.

We've seen some pretty big free agent signings this offseason, chief among them being Carl Crawford and Cliff Lee. There have also been some pretty big trades, such as the Adrian Gonzalez and Zack Greinke deals.

But spring training is still many moons away, and there is still plenty of time for GMs around baseball to work out some last minute deals.

With that in mind, here are 15 players that could be dealt before spring training starts.

Heading into the winter after their worst season in eight years, the Angels looked like they planned on being among the offseason's biggest buyers.  Arte Moreno and Tony Reagins both asserted that they would do everything they could to shore up the team's obvious weaknesses.  They targeted All-Star left fielder Carl Crawford, and were thought to be the favorites to sign him from day one.

Despite opening a brand new outdoor stadium, re-signing their franchise catcher for the better part of the next decade, and winning their division in relatively easy fashion, the Minnesota Twins 2010 season would end the same as in previous years.

Yet another first round elimination at the hands of the New York Yankees would leave Twins fans wondering what it would take to succeed in October.

The free agent cycle for baseball seems to be wrapping up. The final major names are beginning to get contracts, and most teams have stopped shopping around and are just trying to get things sorted out for next season.

While some teams made moves to make a playoff push next year, other teams have gotten rid of their stars and are relying on rebuilding this year. Nonetheless, there are a few teams that are continuing to make moves, even as spring training approaches. Which teams are set, and which continue to make moves?

With a greatly improved starting rotation, the Milwaukee Brewers have become contenders in 2011. But do not mistake that for “division winners.”

In 2010, the Brewers ran out a consistently strong offense, while the pitching kept them in the trenches. This coming season, expect the offense to be more or less the same, but the additions of Shaun Marcum and Zack Grienke may not completely change the Brewers’ recent fortune.

Unless you live under a rock--and even maybe then--you have heard about the Phillies signing Cliff Lee to go along with Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels in a starting rotation that many consider the best of the decade.  This four-man rotation is the best in baseball by just about any stat category, but is it enough to win them the pennant?  The Phillies are projected to win the NL East easily, and to make a good run into the postseason, but is it a lock?  Not quite is the answer.  The Phillies have almost solved the puzzle for the 2011 season--and possibly beyond

MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan is reporting Adrian Beltre has agreed to a six-year, $96 million contract with the Texas Rangers. The deal is pending a physical, and is not expected to be made official until next week.